2007 Pacific National Exhibition
International Sand Sculpture Competition

The third International Sand Sculpture Competition was a great success at the Pacific National Exhibition with 8 competitors from around the World. Two professional sculptors from the United States - Bill Dow and Rich Varano, one from Holland - Helena Bangert, Russia - Ilya Filimontsev, The Czech Republic - Radovan Zivny, Canada - John McKinnon, Australia - Kevin Crawford and Daniel Glover representing Portugal. The Sandemons Sand Sculpture Company was again invited to organize and run the event on behalf of The Pacific National Exhibition along with creating a large display sculpture to open the Fair. The 2007 Display sculpture was a spoof on lumber jack contests with forest animals being the lumber jacks. We created a large forest scene with cougars climbing poles, Bears throwing axes and beavers log rolling.

David Dureault and Fredd Dobbs, Professional Sand Sculptors from B.C., Antonia Senn from Germany, Dan Glover from Portugal and Tamara Lee who is new to sand sculpting, worked with me to create the Demonstration sculpture and assist in organizing and running the event.

I would like to give a special thank you to Corrado(Cory) and staff from LaRocca Restaurant for the fabulous Italian dinner and wine.

I would also like to thank the staff of the PNE who treat us very well during the event along with the staff of the Country Kitchen. Other thank you's go to Curry in A Hurry and China Kitchen for the food and to Corporate Touch & Go for all the well needed massages.

We look forward to this continuing to be a great event over the upcoming years at the PNE Fair, with a larger group of International Sand Sculptors participating. The input from the PNE Fair staff and visitors has been overwelming and appreciated for this amazing live art form.

Create and Enjoy!!

2005 results and photos of Competitors and Demonstration Sculpture. Pacific National Exhibition - 2005 International Sand Sculpture Competition

2006 results and photos of Competitors and Demonstration Sculpture. Pacific National Exhibition - 2006 International Sand Sculpture Competition.

1st Place - ILYA FILIMONTSEV, RUSSIA

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Ilya Filimontsev won 1st place at the 3rd annual event with a sculpture of a Musketeer with Maiden. The sculpture was one of many Ilya has created throughout the year at various competitions and projects. Ilya has become a very established sand sculptor over the past years and works with many renowned sand sculptors on projects around the world. It will be a great pleasure to have Ilay back for the 2008 PNE event.

2nd Place - RADOVAN ZIVNY, CZECHOSLOVAKIA

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Radek Zivny was a great addition to this years event. I met Radek a year ago in Jesolo, Italy and his sculpting inspires me and many others. He is a master in his own right and it was a pleasure to see him work on 'The Swimmer' at this years event. The swimmer was a piece perceived from a newspaper article Radek had seen of the World Famous B.C. swimmer Brian Johns. Radek works on many European projects and you can see more of his works at his website Radovan Zivny.

3rd Place & People's Choice Award - RICH VARANO, UNITED STATES

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Rich Varano placed third and won the people's choice award in this years competition. Rich's sculpture of a traditional sand castle sculpture was an amazing piece of work for the PNE event. Winning the people's choice award also showed how the crowds still love traditional castles in competition. Rich is involved with many events and projects throughout the World. Check out his website at Sultans of Sand for more information.

HELENA BANGERT, HOLLAND

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Helena Bangert created a beautiful sculpture called 'Forest Nymphs' for this years event. Helena works on many sand and ice projects for herself and a number of sand companies throughout Europe. You can check out some of Helena's works at her website Helena Bangert.

JOHN MCKINNON, CANADA

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

John McKinnon hails from Nelson, B.C and created a sculpture called 'Cat Teamwork'. John is a stone carver and works with a group of B.C. sculptors on many sand, snow and ice events throughout Canada and the U.S. You can see John's works at his website John Mckinnon.

DAN GLOVER, PORTUGAL

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Dan Glover created a great sculpture called 'My Robot'. The sculpture relates to the changes in technology in today's world and how we are not far from the realization of cyborgs and robots in our daily lives. It was a great pleasure to have Dan for the event and he was an immense help on the earlier set-up for the competition and work on the display sculpture created for the PNE. Dan is an amazing and very accomplished sculptor and works on many sand projects worldwide including projects and competitions in the U.S. and throughout Europe.

KEVIN CRAWFORD, AUSTRALIA

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Kevin Crawford's sculpture of 'The Mother Goose Castle' was a great sculpture to add to this years event. It was a huge favorite with the public and it was an extremely tight race between him, Dan and Rich for the people's choice award. Kevin has been sand sculpting for many years and is a founder of Sandscapes which over the years has won many sand sculpting titles at the World Championships in Harrison Hot Springs.

BILL DOW, UNITED STATES

2007 PNE International Sand Sculpture Competition

Bill Dow was the PNE 2006 International Champion. This year Bill was invited back and created a beautiful sculpture of 'Sleeping Beauty'. Bill travels the World competing and winning in many competitions and can be found working on large sand projects around the globe. It was fantastic to have Bill back again this year for the PNE event.